Category: CompassionCare Hospice

If you or a loved one ends up in the hospital, you may be faced with a decision to choose between home health services or hospice.

What’s the difference?

Under hospice care, most patients receive services from a Medicare-certified organization, which provides each patient with an interdisciplinary team that consists of a physician, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, and chaplain (volunteer services and bereavement are also available). These individuals come to the patient’s home, wherever they call home: private residence, assisted living community, nursing home, group home, etc. Hospice care is comfort care for patients with a prognosis of six months or less (if their disease runs its natural course) as certified by a physician. A home health agency provides their services in the private homes of patients in need of skilled

National Healthcare Decision Day, April 16-22, aims to help people all over the United States understand the importance and value in advanced healthcare planning. The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping you talk about your end-of-life preferences and wishes. It’s crucial to start these conversations with your family, loved-ones, and physicians-before it’s too late. By doing so, we can make sure that our own wishes and those of our loved ones are expressed and respected.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a collaborative effort of national, state, and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity have the information and resources to communicate and document their future healthcare decisions. In support of this, CompassionCare Hospice will be showing a free screening of the PBS Frontline documentary, “

The value of hospice volunteers cannot be overstated. The relationships volunteers build with patients and families are often deep and personal. Understanding the role of hospice volunteers, the ways in which volunteers can serve, and the impact that volunteering has on the lives of all involved-including the volunteer, can better equip those who are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer.

Before beginning volunteer services, CompassionCare Hospice volunteers are provided with thorough training to help you understand the philosophy of CompassionCare and hospice, the services we offer, how to communicate with patient’s and families, and an overview of the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs during the end-of-life journey. The role of a hospice volunteer is one of compassion and understanding, respect for all ways of life – personal beliefs and/or religiou

For anyone who missed us at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center-there’s still a few more chances to catch the PBS program “Being Mortal”. In support of National Healthcare Decision month in April, CompassionCare will be showing this documentary again throughout our community to help raise awareness and stress the importance of advance healthcare planning.

“Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. After the screening, you can participate in a guided conversation on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences. Yo

People diagnosed with a serious illness or frailty in the state of Oregon are more likely to have their end-of-life care wishes honored, and, consequently, less likely to be hospitalized. These individuals are more likely to use home hospice services compared with Washington state and the rest of the country, according to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This data looked at utilization trends for Medicare fee-for-service, including the percentage of patients who died at home, died in hospice care, were admitted to an intensive care unit in the last 30 days of life, or were discharged home after hospitalization in the last 30 days of life. The trends for Oregon were much different than the other states – Nearly 2/3 of Oregonians die at home, compared with 39.6 percent of Americans nationwide. Intensive care unit use in the last 30 days of life in Oregon was 18

Doctor’s are trained to make people better. But what if they can’t make us better, what if our illness has progressed to the point that we need to consider other options-like hospice.

Hospice is a set of services that we all may need someday. While death is not an option for any of us, we do have choices about the services we use at the end of life. Hospice is undoubtedly the best option for those who qualify. A whole variety of benefits, not only to those who are ill, but for the family and caregivers as well, are available. With many options available, it’s important to do your research and know the right questions to ask.

What is the companies reputation? Get references both from people you know and from people in the community who have dealt with them- local hospitals, nursing homes, and clinical staff. Ask if they have had experience with the hospic

Join us this year for the Susan G Komen-Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 6, 2017! Help show your support for the fight and cure against breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States and every 2 minutes a female is diagnosed. Breast cancer is often first suspected when a lump or a change is found in the breast or when an abnormal area is seen on a mammogram. Most of the time, these findings don’t turn out to be cancer. However, the only way to know for sure is through follow-up tests. Breast cancer screening tests include clinical breast exam and mammography, for some women at higher risk of breast cancer, MRI may also be used.

Today, there are more than 6 million breast cancer survivors around the world. Walk with us this May and help us continue in the fight! You can register online at http://www.komennevada.or

Both CompassionCare Hospice and Helping Hands of Las Vegas serve seniors throughout Southern Nevada. Like CompassionCare, Helping Hands services are free of cost to individuals and help them to remain independent for as long as possible.

Helping Hands of Vegas Valley was established in 2000 and is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide free, assistive services to senior citizens in Southern Nevada, allowing them to maintain their dignity and independence while improving health and daily living. They have a food pantry and provide transportation and respite care services.

Helping Hands food pantry is stocked with non-perishable items and offers a free bag of food and/or paper goods once a month to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Clients must be 60 years of age or older, show proof of Nevada residency and proof that their annual income

Death, while inevitable, is one of the hardest things to talk about. But a growing national movement warns that not broaching this subject leads to a very difficult end for families and loved ones. What matters most to you? If you knew you were dying what would be your wishes and preferences?

Come join us Wednesday, March 22, 2017 and participate in a guided conversation on how to take concrete steps for communicating end-of-life goals. We will view the PBS Frontline film, “Being Mortal”, which follows Dr. Atul Gawande as he speaks with colleagues and patients/families who are facing the end, and addresses why physicians aren’t particularly good at handling people going through the last phase of life.

The number of younger adults being diagnosed with colon cancer is on the rise, according to a recent study by the American Cancer Society. People born in 1990 have twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer as people the same age who were born in the 50’s. Colon cancer in a younger adult sometimes is attributed to inheritance or other risk factors, such as having inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis (Crohn’s Disease). For whatever reason, the number of young adults being diagnosed keeps climbing.

Colon cancer diagnosis in people under 50 is still uncommon (routine screenings are recommended at age 50) but it is the upward trend that disturbs physicians. As a result, in a younger person who isn’t routinely screened, a colon cancer diagnosis is more often found in late-advanced stages. The average delay

Between 1820 and 1930, nearly 4.5 million Irish immigrants arrived in the United States. Americans today exchange about 8 million St. Patrick’s Day cards annually and spending on this celebrated day reaches up to 4.4 BILLION! Nearly 39% of the population (122 million Americans) spend money on food and parties.

What began as a religious feast day in the 17th century has evolved into a variety of festivals across the globe celebrating Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green. Here are a list of some local festivities:

If you missed us yesterday and the film “Being Mortal” there’s still another chance to see this amazing documentary. We will have another FREE screening next Wednesday, March 22nd from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center.

With National Healthcare Decision Month around the corner (April), this is the perfect time to view this documentary and get a discussion going with your family and loved ones about end-of-life decisions. “Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. It follows surgeon, Dr. Gawande, as he shares stories from people and families he encounters. After the screening you can participate in a guided panel discussion and learn how to take steps toward identifying and communicating wishes about end-of